LiteAF Featherweight Fanny Pack Overview

Backside Line

Nicely, the identify of this fanny pack speaks for itself. The LiteAF Featherweight is a minimalist fanny pack and is among the lightest choices available on the market. Light-weight fanny packs can typically be a bugger. So we examined this little beast, and it earned a spot on our information to the very best fanny packs for offering environment friendly storage with out weighing you down. Its compact dimension retains necessities accessible and out of the way in which, making it excellent for fast hikes or path runs.

The entrance stretch pouch is a standout function, permitting for fast entry to gadgets like your cellphone. Regardless of its skinny materials, which barely reduces sturdiness, the pack stays extremely light-weight and useful.

This pack shines for many who prioritize simplicity and comfort. LiteAF provides different straps that seamlessly combine into bigger ultralight packs with out hipbelts. Although its lack of sturdy sturdiness means you have to deal with it rigorously, its well-thought-out design and practicality make it an awesome addition to any ultralight backpacking equipment.

How We Examined

The Featherweight was used on a number of day-long hikes across the Boise foothills in climate starting from sunny to mild rain and snow. It was additionally hooked up to a bigger backpack on lengthy backcountry ski excursions. Focused abrasion testing on the material was carried out with 160-grit sandpaper. Weatherproofing was evaluated after a rain simulation and transient submersion.

Consolation

The Featherweight’s standout function is the spectacular adjustability of its normal strap, which ranges from 15” to 55”. This supplies a flexible match, accommodating all kinds of physique sizes. The strap is simple to regulate and matches snugly towards the physique with out using up throughout hikes, guaranteeing a safe match regardless of what number of miles you cowl. The 1” strap is sensible for a 1.5L pack, with flared webbing anchors providing some help for lighter masses.

Although the pack excels in adjustability and accessibility, consolation isn’t its strongest go well with. Its minimalist design eliminates padding to save lots of weight, which may trigger the skinny strap to dig into your waist when carrying heavier masses on longer hikes. Whereas it’s not probably the most comfort-forward possibility for prolonged treks, it’s excellent for these on the lookout for a sensible method to preserve necessities and snacks simply accessible on the path with out added bulk.

Sturdiness

Along with the EPLX model we examined, LiteAF additionally provides the Featherweight in Dyneema and Ultra200 materials, each identified for his or her light-weight and sturdy properties. EPLX stands out for its waterproof capabilities and resistance to UV degradation, making it a stable alternative for extended outside use.

The development of the pack is clear and well-finished, with no free threads or unfinished seams. LiteAF stands behind their merchandise, and provides a one-year guarantee in addition to in-house repairs.

Whereas the Featherweight excels in ultralight design, it’s not probably the most sturdy pack on our listing. Throughout our abrasion check, it was the one pack that confirmed damaged threads and suffered a pinhole. The material additionally retained some staining regardless of scrubbing with cleaning soap and water.

For these prioritizing weight over rugged sturdiness, the Featherweight supplies an awesome answer, however for extra sturdiness in harsh circumstances, contemplate the Ultra200 model.

Options

The Featherweight impresses with its totally taped seams and water resistant zipper, providing glorious weatherproofing. It stored contents dry throughout each a simulated rain check and transient submersion, sustaining its integrity even after sustaining a pinhole.

One other standout function is the non-compulsory removable straps, permitting you to connect the pack to a bigger backpack whereas sustaining an adjustable match. This makes the Featherweight an awesome accent for packs that lack a standard hipbelt, offering a handy storage answer with out the added bulk.

Nonetheless, it’s necessary to notice that the Featherweight isn’t universally suitable with all backpacks. In the event you plan to combine it into your setup, make sure you verify compatibility along with your particular pack or plan on utilizing the usual waist belt.

The Sliqclips, whereas useful, could be tough to open and shut, particularly in chilly climate. Moreover, each strap choices lack keepers to safe extra slack, which is usually a minor inconvenience throughout lengthy hikes.

Group

Designed to be an ultralight pack that cuts again on frills to save lots of weight, the Featherweight provides simply sufficient group to maintain necessities accessible. It encompasses a fundamental compartment with twin zipper pulls, a stretch entrance pocket, and a slim inside divider to separate your ID, financial institution playing cards, cellphone, and snacks. These sensible pockets be certain that your most necessary gadgets keep safe and simple to achieve whereas climbing.

Given the pack’s minimalist design and compact dimension, the group choices are useful with out extra. Nonetheless, the interior pocket is open on the prime and lacks stretch, so cumbersome or heavy gadgets can shift into the primary compartment. The dearth of construction additionally makes it tougher to open the pack with one hand and requires two palms to shut it securely.

Regardless of these small drawbacks, the Featherweight is well-suited for ultralight hikers who prioritize simplicity and weight financial savings on lengthy trails.

Ought to You Purchase the LiteAF Featherweight?

Backpackers trying to find extra storage for packs missing a waist belt ought to contemplate the Featherweight. With its unbelievable weight-to-capacity ratio, it’s laborious to discover a lighter fanny pack. The attachment fashion is a bit area of interest and differs from different pack-compatible bum luggage, so that you’ll want to substantiate it can work along with your equipment earlier than making a purchase order. Taped seams and waterproof supplies make the Featherweight a really perfect keep it up wet hikes or trekking into unknown circumstances. 

If you already know you’re powerful on gear, contemplate considered one of LiteAF’s Dyneema or Ultraweave fashions slightly than the EPLX, as we discovered this to be much less sturdy than different materials on our listing. Designed with path use in thoughts, the minimalist group and outdoorsy look might not be the very best or most reasonably priced alternative for patrons looking for an on a regular basis carry or a extra informal fanny pack.

What Different Fanny Packs Ought to You Contemplate?

Possibly you need one thing a little bit extra sturdy? Take a look at another light-weight choices beneath from our fanny pack gear information:

ThruPacks Summit Bum Overview: Backpackers looking for additional storage that simply integrates with their setup ought to contemplate the Summit Bum by ThruPacks. Its padded loop accommodates straps as much as 2” vast, becoming most backpack kinds. Regardless of offering a further liter of storage, it provides minimal weight and value, making it a sensible possibility for a lot of.

Excessive Tail Designs – The Ultralight Overview: For ultralight hikers preferring a set waist belt, the Ultralight from Excessive Tail Designs is a best choice. It provides 1L of storage with solely 2 ounces to your base weight. Dyneema building supplies sturdiness and weatherproofing, whereas Excessive Tail’s distinctive prints provide quite a lot of fashion choices.

Hyperlite Mountain Gear Versa Overview: The Versa by Hyperlite Mountain Gear provides a number of snug put on choices and options, together with padding, additional storage, and a 2.5L capability. Weighing simply over 4oz, it stays light-weight, however its extra options include the next price ticket, making it a premium alternative for backpackers looking for versatility.